Non-Cooperation Movement and Swaraj

Topic: Indian National Movement

Explanation:
The Non-Cooperation Movement and Its Objectives
Launched in 1920 under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, the Non-Cooperation Movement was a pivotal episode in India’s struggle for independence from British colonial rule. Organized under the banner of the Indian National Congress, this movement marked a decisive turn from moderate constitutional methods to a more assertive strategy of non-violent mass resistance. It sought to harness widespread public discontent against British authority and mobilize the population in a peaceful yet impactful manner.

Statement I: “The Congress declared the attainment of ‘Swaraj’ by all legitimate and peaceful means to be its objective.”

This statement is factually correct. At the Nagpur Session of the Indian National Congress held in December 1920, the party formally adopted the goal of achieving Swaraj—meaning self-rule or self-governance—through lawful and non-violent means. This resolution marked a significant ideological shift from earlier reliance on petitions and reforms under British constitutional frameworks. Guided by Gandhi’s philosophy of Satyagraha (truth-force) and non-violence, the Congress now encouraged the masses to actively participate in resisting colonial rule while adhering to peaceful and moral conduct.

Statement II: “It was to be implemented in stages with civil disobedience and non-payment of taxes for the next stage only if ‘Swaraj’ did not come within a year and the Government resorted to repression.”

This assertion is incorrect due to its mischaracterization of the strategy and timeline of the Non-Cooperation Movement. The movement was not structured around a rigid, conditional progression tied to the achievement of Swaraj within a specific period, such as one year. Nor was the initiation of civil disobedience or tax refusal contingent on such a timeline or on government repression.

Instead, the Non-Cooperation Movement emphasized immediate actions such as:

Boycotting British-run schools, law courts, and administrative services

Refusing honors, titles, and government employment

Promoting indigenous goods, especially khadi (homespun cloth), to replace foreign imports

Establishing national educational institutions

While more aggressive forms of protest like civil disobedience and refusal to pay taxes were considered as potential future strategies, these were not planned as inevitable next steps based on a one-year timeframe. Such phased escalation, often linked to conditional triggers like increased repression or the failure of negotiations, was more explicitly seen in later movements, particularly the Civil Disobedience Movement of 1930.

Conclusion
Only Statement I accurately represents the ideology and declared objectives of the Non-Cooperation Movement. It reflects the Congress’s commitment to achieving Swaraj through non-violent and constitutional means under Mahatma Gandhi’s leadership. Statement II, however, introduces a misleading account of the movement’s strategy and sequence of actions.

Correct Answer: (a) I only